AMUSEMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, 3 August 1916, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

PERMANENT PICTURES.

' Last evening a very fine selection <-f films was screened at the Empire Theatre. To-night the principal attraction will be the seventeenth episode of "The Million- Dollar .Mystery" Thanhousor serial. This chapter, which will be yhown for the first time, is entitled "The Battle of Wits." The Black Hundred are determined to "get" Norton. By clever spying they learn of his being sent to interview a certain General Henderson. Only bv remarkable nerve ;.- their treachery foiled. Escaping- this trap, Norton turns spy himself, and fallows the gang. They -discover his plan-. and again succeed m luring him to theistronghold. All his strength is here «•:" no avail, and ho is thrown into the to - tnre chamber. Fate sends .Tone* : s avenger and rescuer. There will 1 an interesting- supporting proirranm: \ Richmond will bo visited to-night, an 1 Motueka on -Saturday. TK&ATR E ROYAL. PEOPLE'S PICTURES. A cood audience witnessed the fi; a' screening of "The Vampire" at tl;r Theatre Royal last night. To-nigh Incomplete change contains two stars, eac ■;; oOCOft in length. The first, which.'is :: New Clarion exclusive, is entitled "The Stolen Voice." It is a tragedy in pictures, which, however, ends happilv. i i illustrates the absorbing nature of j«--i----lo- and revenge. So terrible arc 'bv ravasres of jealousy in the villain of th.piece'that he even troes so far as to hvn notise awav the beautiful singing vo- < of the hero. There arc only three four important characters in the cr.sand ench is portrayed with the fire a) - intensity of a true artiste—especially th-

"part of the hero taken bv Robert T\ --- wick. The dramatic intricacies of th<: plot are clearly brought out and emiv.*-.• the true value'of each scene without an undue tax upon the mind. The story i.intense from beginning to end and '/•■ fleets credit on "all concerned. A bri outline of the plot is appended. If y-. ■ were a. S.OOO dollar a week tenor, a not'.; celebrity to whom the respect and e'.r>of the admiration and love of w--men came without the seeking, and i you suddenly "were robbed of your voi?—your one priceless possession—whr. would you do? Gerald Dorville becam a motion, picture actor. The man, wh. driven by jealousy, had exercised hi strange power to strip the singer of hi unique and glorious faculty happened t; -witness a film performance of his formr rival. As a result, in a manner reman; able, Dorville's voice returned to hii:: Daring his days of despair TJorvil! learned values. Re-arrived at- t!> height from which misfortune had can him he was able properly to discriminat between the shallow affectation of ;

glamour-loving woman v.-lio lionised him in his days of honour and condemns' him in his humiliation, and the stead fa--1 unquenchable devotion- of the simple, single-hearted girl who loved the man with or without the voice. "The Red Lie" is another absorbing drama of great interest. Scenics, topicals. and "comedies complete a first-class programme.